South Hams

South Hams' population grew older in the 10 years leading up to 2011. At the same time there were changes in family life, housing tenure and health.

The population passed 83,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of South Hams increased by 1.6%, from just over 81,800 to 83,100.

The addition of just under 1,300 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, South Hams was home to, on average, 0.67 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across the South West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older South Hams

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of South Hams increased by four years, from 44 to 48 years.

This agricultural area had the second-highest average age in the South West and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of about 4,200 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 3,000.

About 16% of people in South Hams are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and South Hams by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More people living alone

South Hams saw the South West's second-largest rise in the proportion of one-person households.

In 2011, just over 3 in 10 (31%) households in South Hams had only one person, compared with 28% in 2001. The percentage of households comprising an unmarried couple increased from 7.5% to 8.5%.

Across the region, only Isles of Scilly saw a greater rise in the proportion of one-person households (from 27% to 34%).

Because of its small size, comparisons to Isles of Scilly should be made with caution.

During this period, South Hams went from having the 18th-highest to the twelfth-highest percentage of one-person households out of 309 English local authority areas.

The percentage of households with only one person was higher than across the South West

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in rate of self-employment

South Hams saw the South West's largest rise in the proportion of self-employed people.

In 2011, just over one in six (17%) people aged 16 to 74 in South Hams said they were self-employed, compared with 15% in 2001. The percentage that were employed remained close to 46%.

Across the region, Mendip saw the next largest increase in the proportion of self-employed people (from 12% in 2001 to 14% in 2011).

During this period, South Hams overtook West Devon to become the South West local authority area with the second-highest percentage of self-employed people.

The rate of self-employment was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were self-employed across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Fewer homes with children

South Hams saw the South West's third-largest fall in the proportion of households with children.

In 2011, just under one in four (24%) households in South Hams had at least one dependent child, compared with 27% in 2001. The percentage with no children increased from 66% to 68%.

Across the region, only Isles of Scilly (from 24% to 20%) and Forest of Dean (from 30% to 26%) saw a greater decrease in the proportion of households with children.

The proportion of households with children was lower than across the South West

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Disability in South Hams

The percentage of South Hams residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 8.1% to 8.5% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under 1 in 25 (3.8%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 3.0% in 2001. The percentage of South Hams residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 89% to 88%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 7.0% in 2001 to 7.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in South Hams, but at a slower rate than in Plymouth (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with South Hams).

In South Hams, the proportion of private renting increased from 11% in 2001 to 14% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Plymouth increased from 13% to 20%.

Across the South West, the share of privately rented homes increased from 11% to 17%.

The rate of social housing in South Hams remained close to 11%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 75% to 72%.

Private renting in South Hams increased by 3.6 percentage points

Percentage of households in South Hams, the South West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of South Hams residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 8.2% to 4.9% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (82%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 70% in 2001. The percentage of South Hams residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22% to 13%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 8.5% in 2001 to 5.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in South Hams decreased by 3.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in South Hams, the South West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in South Hams working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 15% to 13% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage who said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week remained close to 2.5%.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 13% in 2001 to 10% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in South Hams decreased by 2.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in South Hams, the South West and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in South Hams

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased here, but at a slower rate than in nearby Plymouth.

In South Hams, the proportion of single people increased from 22% in 2001 to 25% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Plymouth increased from 30% to 37%.

Across the South West, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 27% to 31%.

The proportion of married people in South Hams fell from 58% to 54%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 11% to 12%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of South Hams residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.0% to 1.4% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 2.0%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 1.0% in 2001 to 1.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in South Hams remained close to 1.4%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and South Hams by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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